Karen

Good morning friend, and happy Caturday to ya from me and my second cup of coffee. Don’t ask me why it feels like I’m living on the wild side when I have more than one cup on Saturday, but it does.

Guess what! A while back, I did some freelance writing for ORLY, a nail polish line out of Southern California. They hired me to do a video script for them, and here it is.

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Video script writing is a whole different beast in that you have to time your sentences precisely to fit with the cuts in the video. It was a challenging and fun project.

This week’s reading

• Miss Havisham is having a glam moment.
• The eight do’s and don’ts of skin care, according to a celeb facialist.
• 13 of the best classic red nail polish shades that never go out of style.
• The bottle for the Cherry Blossom by Les Ateliers Vermont scent by Guerlain looks SO pretty!
• Why does rose perfume have a bad reputation?
• Puzzles for cats!
• Are hair perfumes worth it?
• Um, just in case you were looking for a lipstick with “non-traditional” packaging.
• Make-up artist Lucia Pica likes doing lipstick first.
• Apparently, your natural lip shade is the same shade as your nipple, which is news to me!

I’m inspired to wear color!

Yes, please.

Tretinoin tips!

I hope your Saturday is going great so far. What are you up to? Doing anything fun?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

I totally believe that words have power. It might sound cheesy to some, but one thing I find helpful is to choose words or phrases at the start of the week that motivate me in some way.

This week, I have two words: calm and positive.

Calm and positive

What do I do with them? Well, just about anything!

I write them down on a Post-it and look at them whenever I need a break.

I also say them to myself, like a mantra, when I’m in a zone where my mind can wander, like when I’m walking or riding a bike or washing dishes.

Sometimes, I write the words down in a notebook and doodle whatever comes to mind.

In a way, it’s kinda like informal meditation.

Anywho, if you wanna try it (and I highly recommend doing so), feel free to borrow my words for the week.

If calm and positive don’t resonate with you, then let me know… I can help brainstorm some good words. I have a lot of them!

Thank you

Thank you, by the way, for asking about how the interviews went last week.

One of them, the one I am really excited about, seems to be on track to happening. I’m waiting for an official start, so I’ll continue to think calm and positive thoughts (there go my words again) until then.

If it comes through, then dagnabbit, I’m celebrating!

The in-between place

It’s a weird place to be, though, the “in-between” space. I like to think that I’m holding it together pretty well, but then all the feelings rush out suddenly in the most unexpected ways.

This morning, for example, I did an epic spin class on my stationary bike, and when I finished, I felt really good (ahh, those endorphins), but then I got super emo and cried like a baby.

Part 1 of the epic spin class I did this morning.

And here’s Part 2!

Have you ever bawled after a tough workout? It happens to me sometimes, especially if I’m doing cardio and I’m pushing hard.

Apparently it’s totally normal and happens to a lot of people, and it has to do with the release of endorphins and hormones.

Anywho, that’s what’s been going on here on this side of the keyboard. What’s new with you?

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

So…what is the Monday Poll?

Excellent question! It isn’t, contrary to its name, an actual poll, like with little clicky buttons. It’s just a list of more or less random questions I’ve been posting on this blog every Monday morning for the past quadrillion years (since 2007).

1. Have you ever seen a shooting star?

Yup, many times. Last one I remember clearly was before Connor was born.

There was a meteor shower, and El Hub and I were looking out the window in the workout-slash-storage room (it’s now Connor’s room). We had been trying to have a child for a long time, and I realized pregnancy was not in the cards for us; our family would come together in an unconventional way. I let the idea of having a baby go.

Anyway, that night we were looking up at the sky, and at the same time, we saw a shooting star. I wished for the universe to send us a child.

A few months later, I found out that I was pregnant.

It was probably just a coincidence, but when Connor asked a while back how babies “get into a mom’s tummy,” I started off the conversation with, “Well, first you have to make a wish on a star.”

2. Splits or a backflip?

Um, neither. I’m not naturally flexible and have never done either one. If I worked hard at stretching for, like, years, maybe I could get into a split?

3. How often do you update your wardrobe?

Honestly, not enough. I hate shopping for clothes and only update things when there’s some sort of external element pushing me, like finding a bunch of holes in my tee shirts (why does it happen all at the same time) or being cold and looking in my closet and not finding any decent sweaters. LOL. Oh, my teenage and twenty-something self would be horrified. Baby Karen loved fashion!

4. How do you feel about jazz music?

I don’t really get the instrumental kind of jazz that meanders on for a long time. I don’t understand the structure of it, and I have a hard time with that.

I do love my jazz singers singing the standards, though, especially Julie London, Nina Simone, Peggy Lee and Billie Holiday.

5. Ice cream or a popsicle?

I’ll have an Outshine Popsicle today, please. Coconut flavor!

6. Pick a spa treatment: manicure and pedicure combo, mud bath or a body scrub?

I desperately need the mani and pedi combo.

7. What was life like for you in the early 2000s?

It had fun moments, but generally I was really uncomfortable. I was living in San Francisco and was in my mid-20s at the time, and I was stuck in a boring corporate job and unsure of what I wanted to do with my career.

8. Last scent you wore?

Hmm, it was Idole by Lancome! I haven’t worn it in ages, and I still like it.

9. Something you’re really good at naturally?

Running. I can run like a hamster on a wheel.

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen

P.S. Here are the questions to copy/paste with your answers in a comment. Talk to ya soon.

1. Have you ever seen a shooting star?
2. Splits or a backflip?
3. How often do you update your wardrobe?
4. How do you feel about jazz music?
5. Ice cream or a popsicle?
6. Pick a spa treatment: manicure and pedicure combo, mud bath or a body scrub?
7. What was life like for you in the early 2000s?
8. Last scent you wore?
9. Something you’re really good at naturally?

P.P.S. Happy Monday, sweet friend. This week is going to be stellar for you. Keep your head held high and remember — you can do this. Some parts of your week might be more challenging than others, but you have everything you need to make it happen.

Enjoy your day!

Hi there, friend. I hope you’re feeling peaceful and rested on this beautiful Saturday. I’m feeling the need to work out and get my body movin’ so I’m gonna keep this intro short and sweet so I can get sweaty!

This week’s reading

• Hot tip for flawless under-eye concealer application: “When applying concealer with a brush, don’t swipe the product back and forth, as it will cause it to disappear. Pat the product on with the brush!”
• Underpainting, ’60s vibes and lavender lids are some of spring’s makeup trends.
• And here are even more makeup trends for 2023. Side note: I will be leaving skinny brows back in 1999.
• Smoky, messy, emo makeup circa 2007 has entered (re-entered?) the beauty chat.
• “If the cool girl is dead, then make-up artist Selena Ruiz would be dolling up the girlies for the funerals – chocolate over-lined lips, dark skinny eyebrows and bold wings all included.”
• So I guess a dog bit Channing Tatum’s bum, which led to MUA’s spending 20 minutes every day rubbing concealer and powder on his booty for his upcoming movie.
• RIP Paco Rabanne.
• Sweet scents for grownup gourmands.

I need this today.

Let’s talk about it.

Well, this is lovely.

Love her eyeliner in this video!

Yes, please!

Apparently this is one of two parts.

I love MC’s makeup in this video; it’s a whole vibe!

What are your plans for the weekend?

Today we’re taking it easy and relaxing at home, and tomorrow Connor has a dance performance.

Enjoy the remainder of your Saturday and please remember to rest!

Your friendly neighborhood beauty addict,

Karen